Best for about $1500

[Jonatansofer]

There are so many kind of Ebikes and it’s very hard to choose so I need some help..
I’m looking to spend about $1500 +-
I never had Electric bike before. I’m planning to ride the bike in a city of Chicago, mostly at the park and road to get places , not something to extreme.
I want the bike to be powerful when I need that so I can have some fun
And i want to be able to attach child seat so it need to be safe and stable when I carry my girl.
Thank you

 

[Nova Haibike]

If you plan on attaching a child seat, I would recommend a step-thru frame. It is a LOT easy to mount the bike when you have the seat and child in the back. Something like the Voltbike Elegant.

 

[mrgold35]

Most ebikes in the $1500 range are rear hub and usually weigh in about 50-65lbs depending on accessories. A folding ebike might work if you have space and transportation restrictions.

 

[indianajo]

A great bike for a growing child is the yubabikes.com spicy curry or if you're small, the electric bodaboda. They come with child seat mount, then later as the child grows have padded shelf and grab bars. They come with spoke shields to keep the child's fingers from getting pinched. I like the bodaboda, the 26" wheel rides better through potholes & speed bumps than the 20" spicy curry. I have one, it is very light to ride, much easier than a discount store mountain bike 21 speed I rode previously. There is an electric bodaboda, but not today. 20" wheel of spicycurry gets the child's weight down and not as much tendency to fall over coming off the kick stand.
Blows your budget, but you don't have to replace it when the child grows in only 3 years.

 

[Jonatansofer]

A great bike for a growing child is the yubabikes.com spicy curry or if you're small, the electric bodaboda. They come with child seat mount, then later as the child grows have padded shelf and grab bars. They come with spoke shields to keep the child's fingers from getting pinched. I like the bodaboda, the 26" wheel rides better through potholes & speed bumps than the 20" spicy curry. I have one, it is very light to ride, much easier than a discount store mountain bike 21 speed I rode previously. There is an electric bodaboda, but not today. 20" wheel of spicycurry gets the child's weight down and not as much tendency to fall over coming off the kick stand.
Blows your budget, but you don't have to replace it when the child grows in only 3 years.

Thank you. I want the bike mostly For my self with the option for child seat if I need it.
This option seems to works great mainly with kids and less just for my self, It is too Long. I prefer traditional looking bike.

 

[Jonatansofer]

If you plan on attaching a child seat, I would recommend a step-thru frame. It is a LOT easy to mount the bike when you have the seat and child in the back. Something like the Voltbike Elegant.

Any other options ? How about the Rad Power Bikes Rad City, on EBR video review I saw child seat attach to the bike.
By the way I’m 5’8 and 158lb if it’s helping.

 

[MikeDD]

I used the hand throttle on my Rad Mini yesterday to merge onto a street with 30 MPH speed limit. There is no way I could have done the merging without the throttle, too much traffic. I would recommend a bike with a hand throttle for city traffic.

 

[mrgold35]

I used the hand throttle on my Rad Mini yesterday to merge onto a street with 30 MPH speed limit. There is no way I could have done the merging without the throttle, too much traffic. I would recommend a bike with a hand throttle for city traffic.

I love using my throttle on my Radrover. It really comes in handy for work commuting and getting across intersections in a hurry. I also use it to help push my ebike up or over obstacles. I once used the throttle to push my ebike up a flight of stairs when the elevator was out.

Another plus about the Radmini is it has geared hub with a lot of torque. Inclines or needing to accelerate in a hurry isn't a problem with 80 nm of TQ and throttle with the 750w hub motor. The Radmini rear rack is kid ready for the Thule Yepp Maxi Child Seat.

There is also the Radcity or Radcity Step-thru; but, they are direct drive with half the torque of the Radmini or Radrover. They have a normal bike look with the 2.3" plus size tires and fenders instead of the 4"X20" fat tires. The Radcity and Step-Thru also has a standard rack like the Radmini and it is ready for the Thule Yepp Maxi Child Seat.

 

[Jonatansofer]

I love using my throttle on my Radrover. It really comes in handy for work commuting and getting across intersections in a hurry. I also use it to help push my ebike up or over obstacles. I once used the throttle to push my ebike up a flight of stairs when the elevator was out.

Another plus about the Radmini is it has geared hub with a lot of torque. Inclines or needing to accelerate in a hurry isn't a problem with 80 nm of TQ and throttle with the 750w hub motor. The Radmini rear rack is kid ready for the Thule Yepp Maxi Child Seat.

There is also the Radcity or Radcity Step-thru; but, they are direct drive with half the torque of the Radmini or Radrover. They have a normal bike look with the 2.3" plus size tires and fenders instead of the 4"X20" fat tires. The Radcity and Step-Thru also has a standard rack like the Radmini and it is ready for the Thule Yepp Maxi Child Seat.

I decided to get the bike from Rad power bike , I’m debating Between the Radmini and the RadRover.
The rad city also nice but you don’t get the hub geared.
I’m afraid that the 20’ Radmini will be too small.

 

[Barry S]

You may want to check the Where to Ride page on Rad Power's website to see if you're in an area where you can arrange a test ride through Velofix to help you decide.

 

[mrgold35]

The Radmini has the advantage over the Rover with being able to fold if you have to store in a tight spot, tuck in a corner in a room at home/work, or take on public transportation. You also get the built-in rack if you need to add the kid seat on the mini. The Rover is large ebike with the 4"X26" fat tires. I can stuff it into my 7 passenger SUV with the 2nd row down; but, it is a struggle (I'm 6'3" and pretty good shape). I couldn't take my Rover on any public transportation. I move my Rover around on a 2" hitch mounted platform rack because that requires the least amount of dead lifting. I've never rode the mini to compare it to the Rover. Seems both are adjustable to same range of riders (5'2" to 6'2")

You still get the benefits from both with the 4" fat tires, front suspension, geared hub with 80 nm of TQ, throttle, very good hill climber, pretty good acceleration with throttle+peddling, and go anywhere at almost any speed capabilities.